Biography

LL Cool J initially was a hard-hitting, streetwise b-boy with sparse beats and ballistic rhymes. He developed an alternate style, a romantic lover's rap epitomized by his mainstream breakthrough single, "I Need Love." By 1990, his audience had declined somewhat; his ballads and party raps were the opposite of the chaotic, edgy political hip-hop of Public Enemy or the gangsta rap of N.W.A, but he shot back to the top of the charts with Mama Said Knock You Out. By the late '90s, he had starred in his own television sitcom, appeared in several films, and had racked up some of his biggest singles. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Top Tracks

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• (nfa) No Frontin' Allowed

• 6 Minutes Of Pleasure

• Around The Way Girl

• Back Seat

• Back Where I Belong

• Big Ole Butt

• Born To Love You

• Control Myself

• Doin It

• Fa Ha

• Get Down

• Going Back To Cali

• Headsprung

• Hey Lover

• How I'm Comin'

• Hush

• I Can't Live Without My Radio

• I Need A Beat

• I Need Love

• I'm Bad

• I'm That Type Of Guy

• Imagine That

• It's Ll And Santana

• Jingling Baby

• Loungin

• Luv U Better

• Make It Hot

• Mama Said Knock You Out

• Nobody Can Freak You

• Phenomenon

• Rock The Bells

• Rocking With The G.o.a.t.

• The Boomin' System

• This Is Ring Tone M...

• Wanna Get Paid

• We Rollin'

• What You Want

• You Better Watch Me

Discography

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• Exit 13

  Def Jam

  2008

• Todd Smith

  Def Jam

  2006

• The DEFinition

  Def Jam

  2004

• 10

  Def Jam

  2002

• 14 Shots to the Dome

  Def Jam

  1993

• Mama Said Knock You Out

  Def Jam

  1990

• Radio

  Def Jam/Columbia

  1985